Jon Ralph with all the latest trade buzz, including Jack Watts’ Geelong hopes and Tom Lynch’s future

GEELONG is adamant it is out of the race for Jack Watts, but don’t be so sure. Word is the Watts camp hasn’t ruled out him getting to the Cattery.

Don’t rule out Jack Watts to the Cats. Digital Image: Justin van Rossum

TOM Rockliff made the move from Brisbane to Port Adelaide yesterday,

THE first deals of the AFL trade period have finally been consummated, but there is still plenty of movement on the horizon.

Jake Lever was the first domino to fall, becoming a Demon after Melbourne and Adelaide agreed on a deal and then Devon Smith made his way from GWS to the Bombers.

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JON RALPH with the hot takes:

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It’s a strange sight, but could Jack Watts still get to Geelong? Digital Image: Justin van Rossum

CAN JACK WATTS STILL GET TO GEELONG?

Cats list manager Steven Wells was adamant on Wednesday the Cats were all but out of the race for Jack Watts.

But the Watts camp hasn’t ruled out him getting there and wonders if the Cats are just lowering expectations.

Right now Port Adelaide has pick 28 and Geelong has pick 33.

It means Port Adelaide is in a better position to secure Watts, especially given Watts believes Ken Hinkley believes in his strengths.

He is sick of coaches picking on the weaknesses they seem to ignore in others.

But if the Cats get a second-round pick as free agency compensation for Steven Motlop, they are still in the ballpark for Watts.

Surely they would hand over one of their second-rounders for Watts, who seems a perfect fit for the Cats.

Port Adelaide is still in the box seat, but don’t be surprised if Geelong’s interest in him is rekindled if Motlop leaves in coming days

“Lynch would have to be the most loyal player in the AFL to stay at Gold Coast past 2018”. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

LYNCH AS GOOD AS GONE

GOLD Coast star Tom Lynch might just rival Levi Casboult for the best set of hands in the business.

He also has a fully-functioning set of eyes.

With them he would have witnessed wondrous sights in the past 12 months.

He has seen 2016 teammate Dion Prestia take the money and run — and also win a flag with Richmond.

He has seen one of the kids he spent his formulative years with in Josh Caddy win a premiership — albeit with a diversion to Geelong.

And while ex-Gold Coast Charlie Dixon hasn’t achieved the ultimate reward, he had the game on his boot in an elimination final.

He might have kicked 3.6, but when the whips were cracking in September he was Port Adelaide’s main man.

Lynch hasn’t even come close to sniffing September in his seven years at the club.

With all that in mind, and Gold Coast as close to an on-field basket case as ever, it’s hard to see how the former Dandenong Stingray stays at Gold Coast past 2018.

The head of his management firm, Paul Connors, has already said Lynch, a free agent at the end of next year, will consider his position by Round 11 next year.

He is the same manager who said last month he is “obsessed” with his clients winning premierships.

Is Tom Lynch already out the door at Gold Coast? Picture: Adam Head

He also gets his players to the destinations of their choice almost without fault.

All of it means that if Lynch decides he wants to come home to Victoria, there is no impediment in his way to dissuade him.

Lynch would have to be the most loyal player in the AFL to stay at Gold Coast past 2018.

Even Tex Walker, who sprayed Jake Lever for his lack of loyalty this week, wouldn’t begrudge him departing.

In seven seasons so far Lynch will have had win totals per season that go like this: three, three, eight, 10, four, six, six.

It’s hard to see how 2018 won’t be anything but another year of development at Gold Coast, which will have plenty of picks again in the draft but few established recruits.

So if he signs a new contract he will likely consign himself to a decade of footy with only a slight hope of finals footy by the end of it.

Collingwood will have a war chest for Lynch.

Richmond will scrape and borrow and likely find a way to put together a deal for him.

North Melbourne, Carlton and St Kilda have megabucks saved away.

That trio probably won’t prioritise a player like Lynch given they all have talls already but with Lynch a free agent they wouldn’t say no.

Hawthorn would be a perfect fit given an ageing Jarryd Roughead.

The point is that he could basically get to any Victorian club he wanted to get to if he had the inclination.

And if they are forced to find $10 million over six years they will do so realising he is a player who only turns 25 on October 31 this year.

All of them would jump at a player who only 12 months ago was seen as the best young key forward in the game.

Gold Coast co-captain Lynch might prove himself phenomenally loyal.

The Suns might flourish under new coach Stuart Dew and at least show real promise if not wins that push them into the finals.

But if you had your money on Lynch right now, he would be $1.25 to get back to Victoria.